Leg-rest control means for multipleposition reclining chair



Se t. 25, 1962 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,

LEG-REST CONTROL. MEANS FOR MULTIPLE-POSITION RECLINING CHAIR Filed Aug. 11, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

IN V EN TOR. FQ/DK/OF F. SC/ll. /'P//A CK! JTTORNIVJ Se t. 25, 1962 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,055,702

LEG-REST CONTROL MEANS FOR MULTIPLE-POSITION RECLINING CHAIR Filed Aug. 11, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3.

, INVENTOR. HQ/DTJOF A JCl/l/[PHAf/(E' P 1962' F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,055,702

LEG-REST CONTROL MEANS FOR MULTIPLE-POSITION RECLINING CHAIR Filed Aug. 11, 1959 s Sheets-Sheet s F'R/DTJOF f: \SC/ll IEPHACKA' L Arron/way;

aired htates Patented Sept. 25, 1962 3,ll55,7tl2 LEG-REST @UNTROL MEANS FOR MULTIPLE- POSITION REQLINING CHAER Fridtjof F. Schliephaclre, Berlin-Schnaargendorf, Germany, assignor to Anton Lorenz Filed Aug. 11, 1959, @cr. No. 832,973 11 Claims. (Cl. 2%7-88) The present invention relates to improvements in reclining chairs and in particular relates to a reclining chair of the multiple-position type in which a rigid seat and back-rest unit is mounted on a support frame for movement to two distinct tilted positions.

In reclining chairs of the two-position type, the bodysupporting unit, comprising a seat and back-rest formed rigidly with each other, is mounted on a support frame for rearward movement to an intermediate tilted position and then to a fully-tilted position. A leg-rest is also mounted for movement in response to the tilting movement of the body-supporting unit, the leg-rest being movable from a retracted position beneath the seat to an extended position forwardly of the seat. The leg-rest must be brought to its extended position when the body-supporting unit is tilted to its intermediate position, and must then be maintained in leg-supporting position when the unit is further moved to its fully-tilted position. The intermediate position of the body-supporting uni-t is a slightly-tilted active position with the occupants body in a substantially upright attitude suitable for viewing television, talking, reading or the like. In such position, the leg-rest has already moved to an extended position for supporting the occupants legs. The body-supporting unit can then, when desired, be tilted further to an inactive, fully-tilted position in which the occupants body is supported in a more supine or recumbent position for greater relaxation. In this fully-tilted position, the legrest is still extended in a leg-supporting position.

In devising reclining chairs of the two-position type, provision must be made to move the leg-rest through a relatively long path of movement in response to short movement of the body-supporting unit from its sitting position to its intermediate tilted position. In addition, provision must be made to maintain the leg-rest in its legsupporting position during further movement of the bodysupporting unit to its fully-tilted position. This presents some difiiculty since the original accelerated movement of the leg-rest must be interrupted during the second phase of movement of the body-supporting unit toward its fully-tilted position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide legrest actuating means for advancing the leg-rest rapidly to an extended leg-supporting position when the body-supporting unit is moved to the intermediate tilted position and for maintaining the leg-rest in its extended position with no further relative movement between the seat and leg-rest when the body-supporting unit is then advanced to its fully-tilted position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of leg-rest actuating means of the character described which is simple in construction and operation with a minimum of movable parts, so as to be economical in manufac ture.

In accordance with the invention there is provided in a reclining chair having a support frame and a bodysupporting unit, a carrier member pivotally mounted on the support frame and mounting a pair of guide links which support the body-supporting unit and guide it for movement from an upright sitting position to an intermediate tilted position in which the guide links become rigid with the carrier member. The carrier member is then movable on the support frame and carries the bodysupporting unit from the intermediate tilted position to a fully-tilted position. A leg-rest is operatively mounted on the forward end of the seat and is connected to one of the guide links for movement of the leg-rest to an extended leg-supporting position when the body-supporting unit is tilted relative to the carrier member.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section, of a reclining chair incorporating one form of leg-rest actuating means made in accordance with the invention, the chair being shown in an upright sitting position.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section, of a reclining chair incorporating a modified type of leg-rest actuating means made in accordance with the invention, the chair being shown in its upright sitting position;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a reclining chair incorporating another modified type of leg-rest actuating means in accordance with the invention, the chair being shown in its upright sitting position, and parts being broken away and shown in section to reveal internal construction; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the reclining chair of FIG. 5, with the body-supporting unit shown in its intermediate tilted position and the leg-rest in its extended position.

Referring now specifically to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1-3, the reclining chair shown therein comprises a support frame designated generally by the reference numeral 10 and having spaced side walls 12 inter-connected by cross bars or braces 14 and 16. The chair structure also includes a body-supporting unit desig nated generally by the reference numeral 18 and comprising a seat 20 and a back-rest 22 formed rigidly with each other. The body-supporting unit 18 is movably mounted on the support frame 10 for movement relative thereto from the upright sitting position of FIG. 1 to the active intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2, and then to an inactive fully-tilted position shown in FIG. 3. The mounting of the body-supporting unit 18 on the support frame 10 is accomplished by a pair of guide links 24 and 26.

The chair also includes a carrier member in the form of an elongated carrier member 30 which is mounted at its rear end by pivot 32 on the support frame 10. The

front guide link 24 is connected at its upper end by pivot pivot 46 on the forward end portion of the seat 20. The

leg rest bar 44 has a terminal portion 44a projecting beyond the pivotal mount 46 and connected by pivot 48 to a control link 50. The rear guide link 26 also has a terminal portion 26a extending above its pivotal connection 36 to the seat, this terminal portion 26a being connected by pivot 52 to the rear end of the control link 50.

In the upright sitting position of the chair, shown in FIG. 1, the carrier member 30 rests upon the front cross bar 14 to support the body-supporting unit 18 in the sitting position under the weight of the occupant. The guide links 24 and 26 are in an upright position and slightly forwardly inclined, with the front guide link 24 engaging a stop member 54 formed rigidly with the forward end of the carrier member 30 to prevent the guide links and the seat from moving forwardly. The leg-rest 42 is in a retracted position extending downwardly beneath the forward end of the seat 20, with the leg-rest bar terminal portion 44a upstanding, and the pivot 48 located above and slightly forwardly of the pivotal mount 46.

When the occupant of the chair exerts rearward pressure against the back-rest 22, the guide links 24 and 26 turn rearwardly about the pivotal mounts 38 and 40 on the carrier member 30 to bring the body-supporting unit 18 to its intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2. In this connection, it will be noted that the front guide link 24 is longer than the rear guide link 26 and is inclined at a greater angle, so that the front guide link raises the forward portion of the seat 20 while the rear guide link 26 lowers the rear portion of said seat. The seat 20 is therefore moved rearwardly and tilted rearwardly.

The intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2 is determined by the engagement of the rear guide link 26 with a stop member 56 formed rigidly on the rear end portion of the carrier member 39, the stop member 56 preventing further turning movement of the guide links 24 and 26 relative to the carrier member 30. Thus, in the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2, the body-supporting unit 18 is rigidly coupled to the carrier member 30.

As the guide links 24 and 26 turn rearwardly about their pivotal mounts 38 and 40, the upper terminal portion 26:: of the rear guide link 26 moves rearwardly relative to the seat, even as the latter moves rearwardly. A comparison of FIGS. 1 and 2 will show this relative movement of the terminal portion 26a, the pivot 52 moving from a point forwardly of the seat pivot 36 to a point rearwardly of said seat pivot 36. The control link 50 is therefore moved rearwardly relative to the seat 20, pulling the terminal portion 44a of the leg-rest bar 44 in a rearward direction. The leg-rest bar 44 therefore, turns around the seat pivot 46 and the leg-rest is raised to its extended position of FIG. 2 wherein it is positioned to support the legs of the chair occupant.

It will be observed that in the active or intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2, the body-supporting unit 18 is only slightly tilted and the occupants body is supported in a substantially upright attitude suitable for reading, viewing television, or the like. At the same time the legrest 42 is fully extended and properly positioned to support the outstretched legs of the occupant.

If the occupant of the chair in the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2 wishes to assume a more reclined position for greater relaxation, he need only apply further rearward pressure against the back-rest 22, to bring the body-supporting unit 18 to the fully-tilted position of FIG. 3. The guide links 24 and 26 can no longer turn relative to the carrier member 30, and any further movement must therefore be that of carrier member 30 about pivot 32. The rearward shift of the occupants weight changes the center of gravity of the body-supporting unit and causes the carrier member 30 to turn in a clock-wise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3, about the pivotal mount 32. The forward end of the carrier member 30 is therefore raised relative to the support frame and since the bodysupporting unit 18 is now rigidly coupled to the carrier member 30, said body-supporting unit is tilted further rearwardly about the fixed pivot 32 to the fully reclined position shown in FIG. 3. This position is determined and limited by engagement of the rear-end portion of the seat with the rear cross bar 16.

Since the body-supporting unit 18 is rigidly coupled with the carrier member 30 by engagement of the rear guide link 26 with the stop plate 56, there is no relative movement of the body-supporting unit and carrier member during this second phase of movement from the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2 to the fully-tilted position of FIG. 3. The leg-rest 42 is therefore maintained in the extended position when the body-supporting unit arrives at the fully-tilted position.

To return from the fully-tilted position to the intermediate position, it is only necessary for the occupant to shift his weight forwardly, thereby moving forward the center of gravity of the body-supporting unit and causing the latter to turn forwardly about the pivot 32 until it again reaches the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2. To return from the intermediate tilted position to the upright sitting position, the occupant need merely apply downward pressure on the leg-rest 42, this pressure causing the body-supporting unit 18 to move forwardly on the guide links 24 and 26.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 4, there is shown a reclining chair incorporating a modified type of leg-rest actuating means made in accordance with the invention. Similar parts are given like reference numerals, except in this instance the numerals are part of series. The chair illustrated in FIG. 4 again comprises a support frame designated generally by the reference numeral 110, which includes spaced side walls 112 inter-connected by cross bars or braces 114 and 116. The chair again includes a body-supporting unit, designated generally by the reference numeral 118, and comprising a seat 120 and a backrest 122 formed rigidly with each other. The body-supporting unit 118 is movably mounted by a pair of guide links 124 and 126 which are respectively pivoted to the carrier 130 and the support so that said body-supporting unit is mounted for movement relative to the support frame 110 from the upright sitting position, illustrated in FIG. 4, to an active intermediate tilted position, and then to an inactive fully-tilted position. The link 126 is pivoted to the support coaxially with the fixed pivot 132 of the carrier member 130. The two-tilted positions are not shown herein, but have been previously described in connection with FIGS, 2 and 3.

The chair also includes a carrier member or support bar, designated generally by the reference numeral 130, which is mounted at its rear end by pivot 132 on the support frame 110. The pair of guide links 124 and 126 are pivotally connected at spaced points on the seat by respective pivots 134 and 136. The lower end of the front guide link 124 is mounted by pivot 138 on the carrier member 130, while the rear guide link 126 and the carrier member are mounted on the same fixed pivot 132.

The chair also includes the leg-rest 142 carried by a bar 144 which is mounted by pivot 146 on the forward end portion of the seat 120. The bar 144 has a terminal portion 144a extending above the pivotal mount 146 and connected by pivot 148 to the forward end of a control link 150. The pivot 148, in the upright sitting position of FIG. 4, is located above and forwardly of the pivot 146. The rear end of the control link 150 is connected by pivot 152 to a terminal portion 124a of the front guide link 124 which extends upwardly beyond the pivotal mount 134.

In the upright sitting position of the chair, shown in FIG. 4, the carrier member 130 rests upon the front crossbar 114 to provide a rigid support for the body-supporting unit 118. The guide links 124 and 126 are in an upright position and are slightly forwardly inclined, while the legrest 142 is in a retracted position extending downwardly beneath the forward end of the seat 120. The front guide link 124 rests upon a stop plate 154 at the forward end of the carrier member 130.

When the occupant of the chair exerts rearward pressure against the back-rest 122, the guide links 124 and 126 turn rearwardly about the pivotal mounts 138 and 132 relative to the carrier member 130 to bring the body-supporting unit 118 to its intermediate tilted position similar to that shown in FIG. 2. Since the front guide link 124 5. is longer than the rear guide link 126, the front guide link raises the forward portion of the seat 120 while the rear guide link 126 pivots rearwardly and downwardly to lower the rear portion of said seat.

The intermediate tilted position is determined by the engagement of the front guide link 124 with a stop plate 156 on an intermediate portion of the carrier member 130, so that in the intermediate tilted position the body-supporting unit 118 is rigidly coupled to said carrier member 130.

As the body-supporting unit 118 is moved rearwardly to its intermediate tilted position, the front guide link 124 turns rearwardly about its pivot 13% on the carrier member 130, thereby drawing the control link 1S0 rearwardly so that the latter pulls the leg-restbar extension 144a in a rearward direction and causes the bar 144 to turn about the seat pivot 146, thereby raising the leg-rest 142 to its extended leg-supporting position.

In the active or intermediate tilted position, the bodysupporting unit 118 is only slightly tilted and in a position to support the occupants body in a substantially upright attitude. At the same time, the leg-rest 142 is fully extended and properly positioned to support the outstretched legs of the occupant.

When the occupant applies further rearward pressure against the back-rest, the body-supporting unit 118 is brought to a fully-tilted position, similar to that shown in FIG. 3. In this second phase of movement, the carrier member 130 turns about its pivotal mount 132. The forward end of the carrier member 130 is therefore raised relative to the support frame 110, and since the bodysupporting unit 118 is now rigidly coupled to the carrier member 13%), said body-supporting unit is tilted further rearwardly about the fixed pivot 132 to a fully reclined position which is determined by engagement of the rear portion of the seat 120 with the rear cross bar 116.

During movement of the unit 118 from the intermediate tilted position to the fully tilted position, the bodysuporting unit 118 is rigidly coupled with the carrier member 130 by engagement of the front guide link 124 with the stop plate 156, and there is thus no relative movement of the rear guide link and carrier member during this second phase of movement. The leg-rest is therefore maintained immovable in its extended position in the fully tilted position of the body-supporting unit.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a similar reclining chair incorporating a modification in the leg-rest control structure, wherein the leg-rest is mounted on a four-bar linkage which is connected to an extension of the front guide link. Like reference numerals are again employed for similar parts, except that the numerals form part of a 200 series.

The chair shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 comprises a bodysupporting unit 218 including a rigid seat 220 and backrest 222 and mounted on the carrier member 230 by front and rear guide links 224 and 226. The guide links 224 and 226 are connected to spaced points on the seat 220 by respective pivots 234 and 236, and are mounted on the carrier member 230 by respective pivots 238 and 232. Again, the pivot 232 also mounts the carrier member 230 on the support frame 210, so that the rear guide link 226 and carrier member 230 are mounted on the same fixed pivot 232.

The leg-rest 242 is carried by a control linkage, designated generally by the reference numeral 260, the control linkage connecting the leg-rest 242 to the seat 220 and also guiding the leg-rest in its movement between its retracted and extended position.

The leg-rest control linkage 260 comprises a first pair of links 262 and 264 mounted at spaced points on the seat 220 by respective pivots 266 and 268, and a second pair of links 270 and 272 connected at spaced points to the legrest 242 by respective pivots 274 and 276. The link 270 is connected by pivot 278 to an intermediate point on link 262, while an intermediate point on link 272 is connected by pivot 280 to the lower end of link 262 and the rear end 6 of link 272 is connected by pivot 282 to the lower end of link 264.

The link 264 of the first pair of links has an extension 264a which is disposed at an angle with the axis of link 264 and extends forwardly from the pivotal mount 268. The free end of this extension 264a is connected by pivot 284 to one end of a control link 250. The other end of control link 256 is connected by pivot 288 to an upstanding extension 224a of the front guide link 224. The extension 224a projects upwardly beyond the seat pivot 234.

In the sitting position, shown in FIG. 5, the carrier member 230 rests upon the forward cross bar 214, so that it, in effect, acts as a fixed portion of the support frame and supports the seat 220 immovably. The rear guide link is in engagement with the stop plate 254 on the carrier member 236, to prevent the seat 220 from moving forwardly. When the occupant leans rearwardly against the back-rest 222, the guide links 224, 226 turn on the stationary carrier member 230 to bring the unit 218 to its intermediate tilted position of FIG. 6, in which the front guide link 224 engages the stop plate 256 and is held thereby from further rearward movement relative to the carrier member 230.

As the front guide link 224 moves rearwardly in this first phase of motion toward the intermediate tilted position, its extension 224a draws the control link 250 rearwardly. The control link 25.0 in turn pulls rearwardly on the extension 264a of link 264, thereby turning said link 264 about its seat pivot 268, raising the control linkage 260 and bringig the leg-rest to its extended, legsupporting position of FIG. 6.

Further rearward pressure on the back-rest 222 will then cause the body-supporting unit 218 to move to a fully tilted position corresponding to that shown in FIG. 3. In this second phase of motion, the seat 220, carrier member 230 and front guide link 224 turn as a unit about the fixed pivot 232, and the leg-rest 242 is therefore maintained in its extended leg-supporting position. The fully-tilted position is determined by engagement of the rear lower portion of the seat 220 with the cross bar 216, as has been previously described.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it is obvious that numerous additions, changes and omissions may be made in such embodiments without departing from the spirt and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a multiple position reclining chair having a support frame, a body-supporting unit comprising a rigidlyformed seat and back-rest, a carrier member movably mounted on the support frame, and guide means including at least one guide link movably mounting the bodysupporting unit on the carrier member, the body sup porting unit being moved by said guide means relative to the carrier member during a first motion phase in which the guide link pivots rearwardly, and the carrier member moving relative to the support frame during a second motion phase; a leg-rest, control means swingably mounting the leg-rest on the forward end portion of the seat for movement from a retracted position beneath the seat to an extended position forwardly of the seat in response to movement of the body-supporitng unit during said first motion phase, and actuating means for said control means, said actuating means including an upstanding extension of said guide link, an extension of said control means upstanding above the pivotal connection of said control means with the seat, and link means connecting said guide link extension with said control means extension, the guide link extension moving rearwardly relative to the seat during the first motion phase whereby to actuate said control means through said link means and move the leg-rest to its extended position.

2. In a multiple position reclining chair having a support frame, a body-supporting unit comprising a rigidly formed seat and back-rest, a carrier member movably Ti mounted on the support frame, and guide means including at least one guide link movably mounting the bodysupporting unit on the carrier member, the guide link being pivotally mounted on the carrier member and having a pivotal connection with the seat, the bodysupporting unit being moved by said guide means relative to the carrier member during a first motion phase in which the guide link pivots rearwardly, and the carrier member moving relative to the support frame during a second motion phase; a leg-rest, control means swingably mounting the leg-rest on the forward end portion of the seat for movement from a retracted position beneath the seat to an extended position forwardly of the seat in response to movement of the body-supporting unit during said first motion phase, and actuating means for said control means, said actuating means including an extension of said guide link projecting above the pivotal connection of said guide link with the seat, an extension of said control means upstanding above the pivotal connection of said control means with the seat, and a control link connecting said guide link extension with said control means extension, said guide link extension moving rearwardly relative to the pivotal connection of said control means with the seat during the first motion phase whereby to actuate said control means through said control link and move the leg-rest to its extended position.

3. In a multiple posiiton reclining chair having a support frame, a body-supporting unit comprising a rigidly-formed seat and back-rest, a carrier member movably mounted on the support frame, and guide means including a pair of guide links movably mounting the body-supporting unit on the carrier member, said guide links being pivotally mounted at spaced points on said carrier and being pivotally connected at spaced points on the seat, the body-supporting unit being moved by said guide means relative to the carrier member during a first motion phase in which the guide links pivot rearwardly, and the carrier member moving relative to the support frame during a second motion phase in which the guide links and body-supporting unit are rigid with the carrier member; a leg-rest, control means swingably mounting the leg-rest on the forward end portion of the seat for movement from a retracted position beneath the seat to an extended position forwardly of the seat in response to movement of the body-supporting unit during said first motion phase, and actuating means for said control means, said actuating means including an extension of one of said guide links projecting above the pivotal connection of said one guide link with said body-supporting unit, an extension of said control means upstanding above the pivotal connection of said control means with the seat, and a control link connecting said guide link extension with said control means extension, said guide link extension moving rearwardly relative to the pivotal connection of said control means with the seat whereby to actuate said control means through said control link and move the leg-rest to its extended position, the guide link extension being substantially immovable relative to said pivotal connection of the control means with the seat during the second motion phase and maintaining the leg-rest in its extended position.

4. In a multiple position reclining chair having a support frame, a body-supporting unit comprising a rigidlyf-ormed seat and back-rest, a carrier member movably mounted on the support frame, and guide means including a front guide link and a rear guide link movably mounting the body-supporting unit on the carrier member, said front and rear guide links being pivotally mounted at spaced points on said carrier member and having respective pivotal connections with the seat at spaced points thereon, the body-supporting unit being moved by said guide means relative to the carrier member during a first motion phase in which both guide links pivot rearwardly, and the carrier member moving relative to the support frame during a second phase; a legrest assembly comprising a leg-rest, control means swingably mounting the leg-rest on the forward end portion of the seat for movement from a retracted position beneath the seat to an extended position forwardly of the seat in response to movement of the body-supporting unit during said first motion phase, said control means including a double-armed lever pivotally mounted on the seat with one arm upstanding above the pivotal mount and the other arm operatively connected to the leg-rest, and actuating means for said control means, said actuating means including an extension of one of said guide links projecting above the pivotal connection of said one guide link with said body-supporting unit, and a control link connecting said guide link extension with the upstanding arm of said lever, said guide link extension moving rearwardly relative to the pivotal mount of the double-armed lever on the seat during the first motion phase whereby to turn said double-armed lever about said pivotal mount and actuate said control means to move the leg-rest to its extended position.

5. A leg-rest assembly according to claim 4 in which said guide link extension is on the front guide link.

6. A leg-rest assembly according to claim 4 in which said guide link extension is on the rear guide link.

7. A leg-rest assembly according to claim 4 in which said double-armed lever comprises a bar rigidly connected to the leg-rest and carrying the latter.

8. A leg-rest assembly according to claim 4 in which the leg-rest control means also includes a first link pivotally mounted on the seat forwardly of said double-armed lever, and a pair of links connected at spaced points to said leg-rest, one of said pair of links being pivotally connected to an intermediate point on the first link and the other link of said pair being pivotally connected to the lower ends of said first link and said double-armed lever.

9. A leg-rest assembly according to claim 4 in which said carrier member has a rigid stop member positioned behind said one guide link having said extension, said one guide link engaging said stop member at the end of said first motion phase to rigidly couple the body-supporting unit with the carrier member during said second motion phase.

10. A reclining chair comprising a support frame, a body-supporting unit including a seat and back-rest formed rigidly with each other, means mounting the body-supporting unit on said support frame for tilting movement through a first phase of motion to an intermediate tilted position and then through a second motion phase to a fully-tilted position, a leg-rest, and leg-rest guide means mounting the leg-rest for movement from a retracted position beneath the seat to an extended legsupporting position forwardly of the seat, mounting means including a carrier member pivotally mounted on the support frame, and a pair of guide links mounting the body-supporting unit on the carrier member, said guide links moving rearwardly on said carrier member during said first motion phase to move the body-supporting unit to its intermediate tilted position, the carrier member being then movable about its pivotal mount on the support frame to move the body-supporting unit to its fully-tilted position, said leg-rest guide means including a member pivotally mounted on the forward portion of the seat and having an extension projecting beyond said pivotal mount, and a control link connecting said extension to one of said guide links for rearward movement of the extension when said guide link is moved rearwardly during said first motion phase.

11. A reclining chair comprising a support frame, a body-supporting unit including a seat and back-rest formed rigidly with each other, means mounting the body-supporting unit on said support fame for tilting movement through a first phase of motion to an intermediate tilted position and then through a second motion phase to a fully-tilted position, a leg-rest and leg-rest 9 guide means mounting the leg-rest for movement from a retracted position beneath the seat to an extended legsupporting position forwardly of the seat, mounting means including a carrier member pivotally mounted on the support frame, and a pair of guide links pivotally mounted at spaced points on the carrier member and pivotally connected at spaced points to said seat, said guide links moving rearwardly on said carrier member during said first motion phase to move the body-supporting unit to its intermediate tilted position, the carrier member being then movable about its pivotal mount on the support frame to move the body-supporting unit to its fully-tilted position, said leg-rest guide means including a control member pivotally mounted on the forward portion of the seat and having an extension projecting beyond said pivotal mount, an extension on one of said v 10 guide links projecting beyond the pivotal connection of said one guide link with the seat, and a control link connecting said control member extension to said guide link extension for rearward movement of the control member extension when said guide link is moved rearwardly during said first motion phase.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,615,497 Luckhardt Oct. 28, 1952 2,746,520 Ducrot May 22, 1956 2,875,814 Schliephacke Mar. 3, 1959 2,879,833 Fletcher Mar. 31, 1959 2,918,113 Lorenz Dec. 22, 1959 2,940,510 Schliep'hacke June 14, 1960 

